The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-03-31
THE BLACR PRINCE.
John Alexander, the Leading Negro Gambler Of
the United States.

THE BLACK PRINCE.
John Alexander, the Leading Negro GAMBLER Of
the United States.
From the Detroit Tribune.
A colored man stood in the front
door at Whitney's opera house, gazing
absently at three-sheet poster on
the stand in front of the theater. He
formed altogether remarkable pict-
ure, and one that was duplicated up.
on the bill board. A closely clipped
beard covered his face. magnificent
sealskin overcoat, reaching nearly to
the heels, was carelessly thrown open
in front. The diamonds that blazed
from his shirt bosom and fingers were
as large as the eyes OF the street gam
ms who stood gaping at the man in
the doorway. The man, too, had eyes
piercing and restless. He wore a silk
hat and carried gold-headed cane.
Two men passed by the theater.
"Say, look at that overcoat!" said
one. "Minstrels here this week."
"Yes," replied the other.
''That fellow is the star OF the COM
pany, me ODE:
mo. he's the manager. The COM
pany is not a colored one"
"Please give me this with discretion.
Colored man run q minstrel show?
Amt that a little strong?"
"Maybe, but it is fact. His name
is Alexander-John Alexander-one
OF the best known and cleverest men
in his line in America. Some call him
Alexander the Great, others the
Black Prince. Call him what you
will. he is a bright man just the same"
Theatrical MANI"
Gambler mainly, theatrical some
what"
Mr.. Alexander was found behind the
scenes at Whitney's in the evening.
He was smoking a fragrant favored
cigar right in the face of the yellow
card on the wall that prohibited the
use OF tobacco on the stage.
"How did l become gambler
laughed Mr.. Alexander. "Why, my
boy, I was born one. Now you might
like to know Just where l was born.
Well, / came to life fifteen miles be-
low Cincinnati, on President William
Henry Harrison's plantation. l used
/ to match pennies with the Harrison
| Youngsters, and there first discovered
nv fortune in risks. Later on l be-
came a cabin boy on New Orleans
packet steamer. Everybody CANDLES
on Mississippi river boats. l was no
exception. My good fortune contin-
ued, and when we reached Cincinnati
on one of our trips found / had $50
clear. | left the river and started a
small gambling room for the benefit OF
people OF my own race. / was getting
along finely until one day man came
| in and broke the bank, which meant
5000 to me. Then l bushwhacked
about the country for time in a
rather impecunious condition. When
I could earn a dollar l played the
bank. Sometimes l had hundreds and
occasionally thousands, and lost it all
the next day.
zone night cleaned up 81, 700 in a
Cincinnati bank. ! went to Columbus
and determined to open an establish.
ment for myself, A crowd followed
me m from Cincinnati to break me-
got 81 900 from Cincinnati friend
now a Detroit sporting man, to help
me out, We had it hot and heavy
but came out $4,000 winner. after
waros started d secand bank in Co.
lumbus, and both are running now
How do you play?"
"Onlv big limits $500, 5000, o,
$500 to call a card. Detroit banks
nav s25 iiEaits, but it is mere tomfool
ery to plav such q game. l have al
WAYS made it principle to break OF
break-that is, to Llean out the bank
or myself, That's the only true way
to gamble. My advice to any one
who engages in it is to stop forevel
the minute he makes a decent pile"
"Haye ever broken banks? Only
one or two-hundred. have played
the highest game ever performed II
this country-call-c card faro for 81, O0(
a crack. Remember this was not 6
combination arrangement. l simply
nlaved my money alone, My larges1
cleanings have been in Saratoga, Lons
Branch and Chicago. In Saratoga {
few wears ago broke a bank for $50,
900. That was the largest bank
ever broke, though have made NOR
money than that at one sitting"
"What do you think OF the career o
a gambler?"
"Nine out of ten die poor men.
have known OF few who stopped play
ing when they had something, but tn
rule is the reverse. The tasclnatlol
| is something indescribabie, There !
no use in man gambling in ligh
games. The principle is to make o
lose. Have | superstitions? None
have made enough money withou
them. The only thing that induces
me to enter the theatrical bushes
was that l might divert my attention
from the gambling table. am usin
the minstrels only as an experiment
If like the business shall enter In
to legitimate management and spec
ulation. / am coming here next sum
mer to christen the new trestaag as
ISOLATION. bet on races; bet on any
thing and everything that invites
chance for making money"
Mr.. Alexander had received invite
lions from local gaming houses to Wis
it their place, and on Sunday mornin
he walked into Towards place. H
pulled out a handful OF change fror
his TROUSERS pockets and bought
small stack Of chips. Soon Alexar
der had $25 on his end of the table
A minute after it was $50, when b
began playing double game--that i
against the blonde gentleman and tn
. bank. He would copper for $50 ever
play of the bank and the little ma
standing against him. 1t took NOR
J than two factors to beat the "Blac
Prince" Luck began to turn agains
the blonde, and he sensibly Withdrew
from the game, cashing in $3.50 i
chips. Alexander, smiling and goo
lnafurad. wrestled with the tiger alone